1 The Lord said to Joshua, "Don’t be afraid or terrified. Take the entire army with you. Start to go up to Ai. Look! I have given the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your power.
2 Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king. But you may take its booty and cattle as plunder. Set your ambush behind the city."
3 So Joshua and the whole army got ready to go up to Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand brave soldiers. He sent them out by night.
4 He commanded them, "Look. You are to ambush the city from behind. Don’t move too far away from the city. Be ready, all of you.
5 I will approach the city with all the people. When they come out against us the same way as before, we will flee from them.